Roma was able to win away against Sampdoria and lie just three points behind league leaders Inter Milan with two games left after the Nerazzurri lost to AC Milan 2-1.

Inter lost the Milan derby 2-1 thanks to a brilliant display from Brazil international Kaka who made one goal and scored the other for the Rossoneri.

After a goalless first half with chances for both sides, Filippo Inzaghi opened the scoring six minutes after the break after getting on the end of a Kaka cross.

The Brazilian then doubled Milan's lead five minutes later and, while Julio Cruz pulled a goal back for Inter, the Serie A leaders could not find the two goals that would have secured the title.

With Roma winning 3-0 at Sampdoria, the title race will stretch into next weekend when Inter host Siena and the Romans take on Atalanta in the capital.

Roma needed to better Inter's result and looked likely to be frustrated in Genoa until Christian Panucci broke the deadlock in the 75th minute.

David Pizarro doubled the visitors lead four minutes later and Cincinho added a third five minutes from the end.

Milan's win lifted them above Fiorentina into the fourth UEFA Champions League spot after the Florence side lost 2-1 at Cagliari, who moved four points and four places clear of the relegation zone.

The visitors - knocked out of the UEFA Cup semi-finals by Rangers on Thursday (Friday morning AEST) - struggled again.

Jeda put the home side ahead in the 20th minute and Daniele Conti added a second six minutes into the second half.

Mario Santana pulled a goal back a minute later but Fiorentina could not find another and Adrian Mutu's stoppage-time red card capped a miserable week.

Third-placed Juventus suffered a surprise 1-0 defeat at Siena, whose goal came in the sixth minute from Houssine Kharja.

At the other end of the table, basement side Livorno are running out of games after their 3-2 defeat at Atalanta left them five points adrift of safety with two left to play.

The home side were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Cristiano Doni (56) and Ferreira Pinto (59) before Fausto Rossini (65) and Simone Pavan (82) got Livorno back on level terms.

But Simone Padoin netted a late winner for Atalanta two minutes from the end.

Empoli also look to be headed for relegation following a 1-0 reverse at home to Udinese, whose goal came from Fabio Quagliarella after 18 minutes.

But Parma earned fresh hope by beating Genoa 1-0 thanks to Christiano Lucarelli's 57th-minute winner.

Reggina moved out of the relegation zone and dragged Catania back into the relegation fight with a 2-1 win secured by two goals from Nicola Amoruso (40, 90pen).

Catania netted a late, late consolation through Jorge Martinez.

Torino also eased away from trouble by beating Napoli 2-1. Alessandro Rosina put the home side ahead with a 27th-minute penalty.

And, although Napoli equalised through Matteo Contini in the 53rd minute, David Di Michele scored the winner three minutes later.

Palermo beat Lazio 2-1 thanks to two late goals from Amauri.

The Roman side had taken the lead thanks to a penalty converted by Goran Pandev in the 25th minute but Amauri equalised in the 82nd minute and found a winner in stoppage-time.

PA Sport

Serie A Standings after Round 36